The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-10
sHocXINc MURDERI GEORGIA.
a Family of Nine slaughtered While
Asleep.

Macon, Ga, Aug. Eight corpses, be-
spattered with blood and brains lay ia a
house thirteen miles from this city this
morning and were chastity evidence Of the
most shocking murder ever committed in
Georgia. Ia tLs hsllEay, red with bIool
and elQited with hIsins ana bsir, lay
long handled axe With which The oefuple
crime had bsen accomplished. The house
is the property OF Richard i. Voolfolk,
respectable and well TODD white planter
On the right On entering is a parlor, in the
rear of which is a sleeping room, Which
was occupied by the following named per-
sors: ssls West, IN aged sister of Mrs
Voolfolk, Pearl Annie and Rosebud Wool
folk, daughters of Mis-. Voolfolk. The
sleepipg-room on the left of the entrance
WAS occupied by Thomas, Richard aud
Charles Voolfolk, sons of Mr.. and Mrs.
Voolfolk. The rear room on the left was
occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Voolfolk and
their youngest child, aged Is months. A
chastity sight confronted those who first en-
tered the house after the discovery of the
crime. In the last room the father, moth
er az dinfant lay on the same bed, each reek-
ing with blood and brains Of the other.
The bodies were almost lying across each
other, and their position gave evidence of
an agonizing death. Across the three corp.
es was slung thRtof the Oldest daughter,
Pearl, recent graduate of WeslYanulp,
male cclle~e: With her head beaten to Pfc
and her neck and body mutilated by blows
from the sharp blade OF the sx On the floor.
in the same mangled state lay TIE oody oil
the eldest brother. 1t was evident tssat
Pearl and.her brother had been awakened
by cries during the butehering OF their
parents, and had rushed into the room TO
learn the cause to only share their
fate. On the bed in the opposite room
lay the body of Mrs. West, soaked in her
own blood and her brains ocziDg from her
head, which, like that of the victims in
the other room, was also crushed into
shapeless mass. On the same bed lay the
body of Annie Voolfolk, with her head
cleaven in twain; by the window, on the
floor, in an attitude of suppllcation, lay
the body of Rosebud Voolfolk, with the
left side OF the face and head so mangled
as to make recognition almost impossible.
The sight made the strongest hearts sick;
even the ceilings and walls were bespat-
tered with blood and brains, while here
and there pieces of flesh, which had been
flung from the uplifted axe, chung to the
walls and wsinscotiDg. The bedding was
soaked With the crimson life blood, and on
the floor sicBening pools had formed. The
crowd stood aghast, apparently dunn
founded by the unparalleled horror of the
scene. As soon as the officials could
collect their tenses steps to inves-
tigate the crime were begun. i. g.
Voolfolk, the only survivor of the family,
was questioned closely, and his replies
were of such nature that suspicion
quickly pointed to him as being guilty OF
| the crime. Voolfolk was Immediately
placed under arrest. He protested his in
nocence, but viewed the blood despatched
| bodies with such unnatural composure
that the crowd YVES soon inturiated and
clamoring for his life. The coroner and
other officials rallied around the prisoner
and held the crowd at bay, at the same
| time urging that the man ne given a
chance to prove his innocence If possible.
| These pleadings eventually impressed the
throng, and it was sgreed to await the re-
suit Of the coroner's inquest, provided it
be held Immediately. The coroner accord
| ingly impaDelled a jury and proceeded
! with the investigation. Nothing positive
as to Woolfolk's guilt was established
although a great deal of circumstantIal
evidence fastened the chain around him
| tighter and tighter. -
| Later aud fuller details from the scene OF
the Voolfolk tragedy develop the fact that
there were nine victims instead OF eight as
1 first reported. M -
The ooroner's jury foundEa verdict OF
| murder sgainst Thomas g. Voolfolk. son
of the Captains first wife, who was sleep.
i ing in the house.
The prisoner was brought to Macon and
lodged in jail. where be talked Of the crime
1 cody but made no admissions. His mo-
| tive is said to be the desire to gain posses
sion OF his fathers property for himself
and two sisters, children Of the first wife.
The funeral of the nine victims Of
| Thomas G.. voolfolk took place here to-
day at Rose Hill cemetery in the presence
of 3, 200 people. The services were brought
to an abrupt termination by the arrival OF
Mrs. Edwards, own sister OF the murderer,
who was in Athens.at the time of the com.
mission of the crime. Heart-rending cries
followed, bringing tears to the eyes OF
every spectator. Voolfolk was carried to
Athens early this morning for safe keep
ing. he still denies his guilt.